Monday, March 26, 2012

As a jewelry designer, I like to find creative ways to display and organize earrings and necklaces. I just love these pretty displays from Tammnoony on Etsy. She also makes jewelry boxes, clocks, and other cool stuff.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

So, The Fabulous Boyfriend got me a jug of fresh maple syrup (literally fresh, part of a friend's batch made last week), so I've been cruising the net looking for unique pancake recipes....and I stumbled upon this amazing goodness:

Sure, you don't need the maple syrup with this cream cheese topping, but I bet a smidge drizzled over the top would be yum-o! Find the recipe here.

Friday, March 16, 2012

It's my daughter's 25th birthday today! Yes, I know, I'm only 29, so I have no idea how that happened, but let's just go with it. ;-)

Allow me a little "brag time"?

She's so amazing and has done incredible things with her life already. An independent spirit since childhood, I knew she'd be off and running early - and she was, joining Americorps right after high school. While in Americorps, she helped build homes for the needy, cleaned up after Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi, tutored inner city kids in South Carolina, and helped with trail maintenance in the Smoky Mountains National Forest in Tennessee. She enjoys photography, writing poetry, cooking, making jewelry, hiking, skiing...the list goes on. Though she's lived all over the country, she's now settled in Denver, Colorado, loving her job in social work, still trying to make the world a better place. I miss her like crazy.

She'd (literally) give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. I couldn't be more proud of her.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Ever had a creative urge, an idea, or just a passing thought that seemed so outrageous that you never took it seriously? Did you think, "Oh, I could never pull it off", or "What would people think if I pursued that?", or "Maybe later...".

Ever regret not pursuing one of those "crazy" dreams?

As I look at my own journey - where I've been, where I am, where I want to be - I've begun to wonder if my life is lacking a good dose of absurdity. It's too easy to get bogged down in minutiae and day-to-day mundane tasks. Couldn't we all use a trip to the wild side more often?

How do we recapture a little crazy when the world teaches safe conformity?

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Just love these gorgeous handmade purses from1madwoman on Etsy. I have a huge "Mary Poppins" bag that I carry around all winter (good to stash office shoes, hats & mittens), but I like to get something cute (and smaller!) for spring and summer.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

One of the homes we have designed over at ron brenner architects is currently showing during the Twin Cities Parade of Homes. If you have the time - and you are in the Twin Cities area check out model number 239 at 10138 Tapestry Bend in Lake Elmo. I think the house exemplifies charming country living.

The design was a collaborative effort. Mark Sova of Main Street Builders worked out a smart initial floor plan, and I crafted the exterior imagery suggesting just a few plan revisions. Mark worked with the home buyers to develop the interior decorative theme. The result is a snappy modest home that I would characterize as an eclectic farmhouse. Below are a few images.

Monday, March 5, 2012

As some of you already know, I used to be a ballet dancer, so please forgive the occasional excess of ballet posts - but this is so good I just had to share! The editing is really superb. Don't blink. ;-)

Love to read books about inspirational women? Legends would be a great choice. Written by women writers, Legends talks about some of the most influential women in history, pulling from a wide spectrum - politicians, musicians, sports figures, writers, philanthropists, artists, etc. Supplemented with wonderful portraits, Legends is one of those books you'll want to revisit often.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Are you as smitten with Paris as I am? Then you'll want to check out Nichole Robertson's wonderful photography on her blog, Little Brown Pen. Her images are soulful and unpretentious, and capture Paris (and her people, food, and light) at her most beautiful. You can purchase prints, postcards, and calendars of her work, and she's releasing a book next month called Paris in Color (pre-order it here).